the was a good natured laugh,..nothing wrong with speakign your  MInd... Right Frans?

  ..Yeah... you won't  win. most of the  Time with the LC... but  he'll listen..

  ..Alpha  Fleet, no one listens...unless your are the right person...


 ..and? Now we see the fruits of such labor... from what i have heard.. Both Sevente and Richards were damn good officers..... Sevente just..liked the easy life... Richards  had too much pride...Had they been working together.. we  would  be  over in  Epsilon or Zeta Quad  by now...

 ..the scary thing? Had  we  went after the Roussians... there would be no Matterhorn... and Enta  would be next... and the Empire  would have shifted the war back to us....

  Raven Comes on ..Shadow?>.  we are taking our  Boat away... Admiral has    us   swinging out  ahead of the  Mosnter.. we are going to attack the  head...

 ..alright..good HUnting...


 The Mercs ship broke off to  hover around the HArvester  as she swung out..dark  and fast to  try and reach the  Bow of the Hive.

Justin manoeuvred his 25 to the Port side of the Bee. Glancing in Harries direction he was prevented from seeing her by the frosted spiderweb caused by the round striking the Bee's canopy. We have more pressing duties to attend to Harry. The targets out need to neutralise; the quicker we get that done the greater the chance of Alpha and Gamma Fleet elements have. Picking up a cluster of three bogies on their 10 Like that patrol showing at ten o'clock shall we spoil their day. Take the lead and I'll try and keep up.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:54, Sun 19 Nov 2017.

    The Clash of the Two Fleets was harsh..but even  more so  for the LArgran-creshian fleet...

   the 'dark ships came out of the Black, from above and  Below, while the   ships with lights on took the Fleet head on.

 The Sanri Cruiser  SESN 0100 Goddess's Eyes... was destroyed, very few pods  fired out as the  ship ruptured  and blew.

 serval  ships of the Delta  fleet  took some pounding  hit from  Pulse cannons..ESN Hard Ammo and cap ship torpedoes , slammed  into  enemy vessels..  sending some    slowing  turning  away as   explosions  racked the inside of the LArgan ships.

  Parasites began to slam into  ESN Vessels as they  the pilots  had to rely  on  eyesight, since  the Delta Vessels were 'invisible' to thier  scanners.

  Van Ros ordered all torpedo aircraft out  with orders to   hit   the first Cap ships they came  across.. then come  back and reload..and keep doing it until they are shot  down, or  run out of   weapons.

 The Odin was in a bad way.. but she   moved in, closer to the Middle of he Fleet , allowing  her aircraft to aid the rest of the Fleet

...........

 The Alpha  Fleet seemed to wait, as most of the  enemy fleet slowly truend to  meet the 'unseen' wave   coming  across..  Some of the ships  Moved  forward , following Hack's orders... But the Attila  stayed  behind...The Helche Stayed  with it.. the rate of  defensive  fire  from the  Helche was rapid.. the fire  from the Attila was  Random...

 The  wolfhart stayed   near the   Uppers  adding her   weapons to the defense of the station...

............

 The Gamma  fleet was scattered.. most ships  taking a pounding  while  a few  drew closer to the  Station to help  cut down on Fresh parasite deliveries

   Lyri  was watching  as the systems  slowly cam back on line, She  asked the Admiral on Open COMs.

  ..admiral?.... In.. about  3  Minutes...the  power will be restored to the transponder... I  Think that's why the Plug was  ripped.. its a Gamma, transponder..  the  Bugs will see us on thier scans...

 Hacks  Voice   came back...yes, Master Chief... that is a fact.

 ..won't they try to swarm us?

 ..They will try, MAster Chief..... but to  do that, they will have to pull guardian ships  from the Hive Vessel...

 ..but....

 ..I know, Master Chief... this  is  going to be  a big moment..one way , ot the other, in the history of this war...how people  tell the story.. will depend on what we do...

 Then He added,..ESN Ewald... time to play your part.. fire up the  engines.. try to remove as many people from the ship as you are able.... understand this... The Ewald is not coming back... I want every one off that vessel  within 5 minutes  after i tell you to evac... if... you have the  course  set and Locked.. Evac  early..

"What can I say...Daddy always said I spoke my mind, even when it wasn't welcome" Harry replied cheerfully, glad to see that Shadow wouldn't take her comments personally. She could live with not winning the argument, what she couldn't live with was being outright ignored or persecuted for holding a different opinion to her CO, which like Gia had pointed out had very much been the case in Alpha fleet.

It was then that Justin would spot the trio of enemy fighter's below them and suggest she take the lead again "oh let's" Harry replied with a grin before descending upon them. Aiming for the left most fighter so as not to expose her blind spot to the others Harry would fire a short burst from her lasers before following it up with her 37. Regardless of whether or not she scored a killing shot she'd execute a split S in order to either line up the finishing shot for her target or to find a new one.

    The  fighter she  hit was  LArgran.. all three  were.. the  shields   flashed  as the   power weapons hit.. a #& MM  hit the portside  wing of  Harry's  target.. the    aircraft Veered off.. as the Pilot tried to figure out  what was Going  On.

 Their  power weapons  and   Hard Ammo  reached out to  the two  Hermes Aircraft...  Pulse  his  Harry with  impact, but no damage..looking  at her port wing she    could see  scoring from the power weapons....she did  'see'  a hard  ammo  round , zip past.. the   Aircraft that fired  on  her almost  hit her skids  as he flew under.

  Justin felt a  Hardammo  round  from the   Lizard that  came at him, though the power   burst  zipped back harmlessly.. Justin's   Rudder showed Brown... which was just showing it was damaged ..

 the wounded aircraft  was limping back towards  The Field.. the other  two  were  Criss Crossing as they  turned to meet the   aircraft that  had  jumped them

   "I've programmed in the parameters.  She should fly to where we need her to go."

 Hacks  Voice Relies,..YOu folks are there.. I'm not getting  anything close to a good Cam feed...there have been relays  cut or destroyed it would seem.

 ..By my calculations ....it will take the Ewald 8 minutes  to reach..and enter its target....also.. it will take  6 minutes  for the closest  Empire Vessels to try and Stop it....

 there is  quiet as he adds,..there is a  damn good  chance  there will be alot of parasites  and Fighters... so i wnat my shuttles back here... ..and that is  NOT.. a request.

Justin jinked the 25 to the port dropping his wing and bringing its nose inline with the bogies crossover intersection leading their path he fired three quick bursts sending rounds at the Largran's. Quickly pivoting hard to swinging his Kite out of line of Largrans the fire slipping coming across the side of the lower bogie giving him a flanking shot he opened up with the 35's and blasters.

"Copy that, Admiral.  We're just waiting on evac of the Park section...should be done any minute.  Once the Big Ugly casts off, the Deuces will begin withdrawal."

He paused a moment then asked, "Chief, can you set your engine cores to overload at a specific time?"  If they could, he wantex it...if not, they'd just have to rely on as much speed as the Ewald could build up to maximize damage on the Hive.  But eight minutes at full throttle would build up a pretty impressive head of steam.

   The Chief  Calls up.....we got a  trooper in the Park now..  he's handing the  kids out to speed them up...We have ..... he pauses.....one more..  and a woman.. after that..we got  out  anyone  we can reach.

 ..gonna lose alot of livestick and  crops in the farm....


 ..as far  as the engines go?.. if the explosion  Doesn't walk the  whole way back.. the   engines  will keep pushing  until they over load... but if one of these   House sized Power Cells  crack?... well.. there won't be  a need for  any more explosions..

   Justin fires  as they   LArgrans crossed, the one that flew  under  Harry  caught  a 37MM in the Cock pit and  Blew  apart..

  The Second One   twisted   and   opened up on Harry...  energy weapons   hit her  wings she  felt her    air craft shake.. the  hard  round   zipped  by on either side.

Roy nodded.  "That should do the job, one way or the other," he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.  Keying his comm, he repkied, "Sorry about the livestock, but there's no time to clear the whole ship.  We're sacrificing a few lives now to save thousands of lives later...we're pushing our luck already."  He shook his head, not wanting to pursue that line of thought any further, and added, "Sound off when you're boarding the Big Ugly, we'll take care of it from there."

He was peripherally aware that he'd started tapping a finger against the console...forced inaction was hard for him.  It was one thing to sit and,wait for the right moment to squeeze a trigger, but this--having to remain on indefinite standby while someone else finished a large task, knowing that people were dying because you hadn't acted yet...that was hard.

"Lyri...how hard is it to pull the cord again on the transponders?  Anything we can do to get a hundred meters closer to the hive before they focus on us would be helpful."

  Lyri looked around,..well?  Beth  could  bore you with the tech-Talk...

  ..I heard that!

 There was  a 'lyri frown'....transponders are  part of the COM  systems... so? if i jerk the plug.. tranposnder  goes out...COMs  go  out... screens go out.. We have to fly by sight...The Lock we have  will go away.. that means  we'll have to  stay with the  ship until we're  a mile..maybe two..depending how fast we are going...

.......

  ..Chief here... the  guys  comign up from the Civie section?  have  found soem UEs... they dusted them.. but  we are going to  weld the hole back up... and the Civies  are  aboard...  we got 5 of us down here  yet..it about  2 minited the plates  will be on the hole and we're outta here......
.....

 Hack Interjected.....at your present speed ... Lily has you reaching the target in4 more  minutes...there is one LArgan Cap ship coming this  way.. and a  swarm of parasites... they don't see us yet.. but they will after  we Fire...

 Roles  Breaks in...Admiral?.. we're   ready  this thing is way to big to run away?.. but..if all goes well.. it won't go anywhere!

 ..Alright Captain Roles.. attack when you are ready... Once you have achieved your  Goal...reurn to us... or head to the rear..

 ..Aye Sir, Already Done...

    Roles left the COMs  open for   the fleet to hear... the  blacked out EMS  Vessel was  within  one Mine of the Monster   ship...

 Roles  whispered into his COMs... Raven?... tell the  torpedo jock to let loose, then get back here... you flks egt ready for the hronets we  kick up... we'll fire  after the torpedo is loosed.

 Raven relayed the message...

 Compared to Hive.. the  torpedo craft look like a  fly to an elephant...it went it... almost 500 yards  away, and fired, then took  off in a climbing  turn to watch its   results...

 the  smaller sixed  torpedo it  just under the  Brideg window  , blast doors... The eslposion  caused  one to  snap off...

  Then  the  HArvesters  broadsides opened  as they  crossed the  T from  1000 yards  away.. the   hard Mamo  runs  pounded  the  Bridge  balst doors..   in releants less fire... the  second one   broke off  and  flaoted  away... Just as the Metaglass  turned  white.. then shattered...

 ..Deck Gun... %  rounds.. get them in that window....

 The  dec gun  spun around  and fired... 5 times.. each shot  shaking the HArvester.. $ shells   made it through the  shattered  windows.. exploding on impact.. one of them was a Little   high.. the HE blew off some plates, but the pay load of Ion Dust  Coated  the   front of the  ship.

  Inside s  light s  flcikered and went on.... flames  rose  high as comsoles  and such burned, feeding off the atmo  that was   comign into the  Bridge.

 ... All DONE.... on our  way back...

.............

   a few of the ships that were  steamign in to  hit the  Delta Fleet  peeled off for the  Hive...

............

Hearing the broad band com of the opening attack on the Hive ship Justin grimaced; this will start things popping especially since the Bugs are sure to recall every ship in their fleet to defend it. The Bogies will be thicker than flies around a jar of molasses. He'd managed to loosen the rudder so the damage wasn't as bad as he'd originally thought, however that meant the 25 was still about ninety percent effective. Pivoting on the Bogy that was harassing the Bee he fired a burst to distract it and allow Harry a killing shot.

    "Beth, I carry a spare personal com that obviously doesn't squack like a star ship.  Can we simply relay the remote contact through that?  I can open line to the Stoly and use it as a relay."

  Beth  answers Garrat,..Ships  COMs  are a bit  different then people COMs. That's  why they are  set up  the way they are. It was meant, if  we lost a ship to boarders.. we could track them, or they would have to fly by sight..either  way? its on now and you folks are  running out of time...

 From the  Engine  room the Chief says,... everyone  is aboard  but  me... the  engine is  Full on... if your  ready,  i'll smash the controls..and there  won't be  anyway to stop it, until it hits osmthing, or the powercells dry out..even then.. it will just keep  moving on hits own..

"Stop shooting those bloody hard ammo rounds!" Harry shouted irritably at the Lagran Fighters as she felt her craft being buffeted by yet another impact, forcing her to pull a few evasive manoeuvres to try and shake off the fighter on her tail before rounding on the fleeing fighter she'd previously winged.

Knowing that it would be all too easy for the enemy to hide within the debris that littered the Field Harry would carefully line up a shot before opening fire; once again using her lasers for a targeting shot before opening up with her 37 after making any necessary adjustments. If she failed finish off the crippled fighter she'd be forced to turn around and help Justin deal with the other one. The question was whether the Lagran's luck would hold out?

Roy nodded, and rose from the chair.  "Do it, Franken, and then run like hell, so the Big Ugly can get clear.  Flix, get your people aboard, take off in thirty seconds...have one of the gunners fire on that ammo pile in the hangar on your way out."

He looked around the bridge, assessing what could be done there, as he continued, "Hirr, Az-El, back to your shuttle and cast off.  Leave bug bombs in the passageways as you withdraw, so any pursuers can't keep up with you."  He released the comm as he spoke to the bridge team.  "Button up the doors.  Karson, I want you to rig a charge that's gonna leave a gaping hole in the front of the bridge...anyone who opens those doors will get blown into space.  Garrat, Lyri, disable the controls.  Stoly, we're comin' in fast, be ready to go.  If you don't have something to do, get back to your shuttle."  He moved over to stand next to the breach point, ready to get back on Stoly's Spade.

"On it."  Garrat checks the course setting one more time then slaps two shapped charges over the wire bundles for the control board before powering down the terminal.

  Franken's  COM  came back,.. YOu got it  SM... be advised.. nothing will stop this thing,  unless you hit it with Boarding Chains and knock out the  Engines... Thanks  for the Help!

  there was the  sound of a Blaster going off as the ships  shook and seemed to pick up speed.

  ..Big Ugly casting off.... Bye old Girl!

....................

  the Sanri took one last look around  then  boarded thier  shuttle.. slipping into the  Black  they turned to face the Hanger Dec and opened Fire.

   in a few moments there  were  small explosions  followed by a few  Bigger   ones,  the Shuttle  lifted  up and Over the Ewald to the Hermes...

...........

 Felrites and Angels    ran towards the OB. The Angels set  Tether Bombs with a Bug Bomb attached to the explosive. at  foot  level.. then did the  same to the  Doors to the OB Dec.

  The   hurried into the  shuttle, with  Hirr and Az-el last to board. LT Milr said,we are, casting off...  heading to Hermes.....


 .................

   Karson opened  the Blastdoors  of the  windows... and   his voice was horse as he said......... all the gods be damned....

 they could see the Monster  Now.. the Bow  was barely Visible, there was  twinkling of   fire as a tiny  trial of smoke..in truth.. the fire was a Blaze and the column of smoke  leaked out the  blasted Bridge into  space..

 They could see the Engines.. they were Bright with power and 80 thrusters...as  the  engines worked to hold the  monster  in position.

 Robbins looked out  as he   helped  cut  wires  for KArson......Look There!..one of  our Corvettes is  coming back after trying to attack it!

 ..nay, Laddie.. that's  nay a corvette.. that's the Bleedin  Harvester   

 ..lok?  it must be giving off alot of heat.. the Black looks all wavy....

 McCloud  frowned and Handed Robbins his Bino,..those  waves  are Bloody parasite shuttles... an' were ehaded right  fer them...

  Lyri  Looked at GArrat,..once you  lock it in.. let me know. I'll pull the plug...

 Supe and the others stared out  at the thing... not even noticing the   enemy fleet  and the Delta  Fleet fighting a running battle..

 Harry   fired on the  'escaping" fighter, and Nicked it  up some more... but  it weaved its  way through shattered    chucks of ships ..

  Behind her the Fighter  that Justin ws 'herding'  was   taking shot at her... Only Justin's  fire. stopped  it from getting  a deadly bead on the Bee.

 Shadow's Voice  came over the COMs,Ok folks... this is it.... If you can't  fight.. stay with the Hermes and  keep parasites off the  Achilles  and the Hermes... The Harvester  should be here soon..

 he was  quiet for a breath,..The Ewald has to hit that Monster.. we can;t  allow any thing near it...

 Even as he spot, the dots of  Dozens of parasites  and  figthers  were growing... The Bugs  had  bled off too many to attack the fleet... never ..in their  darkest thoughts.. would some  one be  so crazed...to attack the Colony ship.

 Achilles  and  Hermes  fired board sides  down range.. Telephone pole sized  tropedos traveling  Until the  found an Unluck host... hard Ammo as it  propleed throught he Balck.. and impacted, as if by magic on  a Larrgan vessel

.......

 Gletis's Voice screamed...STOP!!!!  STOP!!!!

Roy felt the same awe...but being resposible for the mission kept him from pausing to analyze the view.  "Stop gawking, and either finish your job or get on the shuttle.  Every second we stand here looking at that is another second closer to all the support craft."  He grimaced, and added, "Pretty sure getting hit by one of the parasite shuttles would cripple a Deuce.  Let's not stand around and find out.  MOVE IT!"

    the teams  finished Up.. others were already  loaded and waiting... there was the sounds  of their two Duces  firing off thier 50's....  there was a wee bit of a flash as they   climbed  up wards as a parasite exploded about  100 yards a way... Hermes   Fighters  roared over..

  ..Lets Go SGT MAJ..... Admiral Won't like it  if i  lose him two Duces....

  Shadow and his Wing Ladies  were  past  fikring into the waves  of fighters  and Parasites.

 Cross talk ...

  " Achilles here... impact amindships.. Bugs pouring in..."

 " sound of  an explosion... Howe  here.. parasite   gone...."


 less then a Mile away a LArgran sloop vanished and was repaided by an expanding cloauf of debris and bodies.